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Pressure on Luke Burgess to retain his Wallabies No.9 jumper intensified on Wednesday when he was dumped to the bench for the NSW Waratahs’ Super 14 crunch match with the Western Force on Saturday night.
Brett Sheehan regained the role Burgess wrestled from him midway through last season in one of two key backline changes made by Waratahs coach Chris Hickey.
Hickey also promoted dual international Timana Tahu to replace injured outside centre Rob Horne (hamstring) as NSW look to bounce back from last Saturday’s 20-6 loss to the Bulls and consolidate their place in the top four.
After years in the Super rugby wilderness, first as George Gregan’s long-time understudy at the Brumbies and then playing third fiddle between Sheehan and Josh Valentine at the Waratahs, Burgess proved a revelation when given his big chance at NSW midway through their 2008 campaign.
He was widely hailed as the Waratahs’ saviour after reviving the side’s fortunes and guiding them to last year’s final before, almost inevitably, gaining a Wallabies call-up.
Burgess’s star began to fade, though, on the Wallabies’ spring tour of Europe, where a succession of ordinary performances soured his otherwise watershed representative season.
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans defended Burgess’s misfiring displays and vowed to continue backing the 25-year-old.
Now, though, the dynamic halfback faces the biggest challenge of his career trying to supplant Sheehan in time to once again press his Wallabies claims.
“Sheeno has been doing a really good job for us with relatively little game time this season, so we thought we’d give him the chance to rip in from the start this week,” Hickey said on Wednesday.
“It’s great to have two Wallaby No.9s at your disposal.”
Ironically, Sheehan will go head-to-head with Valentine, the halfback forced west to the Force this season due to the Waratahs’ embarrassment of halfback riches.
Hard-working lock Will Caldwell will become NSW’s most-capped lock at the SFS on Saturday when he plays his 64th match for the Tahs, surpassing former Test players Tom Bowman and John Welborn.
Caldwell made his state debut against Scotland in 2004 and played his first Super 14 match two years later against the Queensland Reds.
Since then, he has missed just three Super rugby matches and will earn his 49th Super cap against the Force.
“Will’s progression is a testament to hard work, commitment and a thirst to improve his game over a long period of time,” Hickey said.
“With Dan Vickerman moving on, Will was given a real opportunity to become a leader in the pack this year and he’s certainly done that.”
Sydney University’s Peter Playford moves onto the bench for the first time this season, having earned the last of his four NSW caps in 2005.
NSW Waratahs: Sam Norton-Knight, Lachie Turner, Timana Tahu, Tom Carter, Lote Tuqiri, Daniel Halangahu, Brett Sheehan, Wycliff Palu, Phil Waugh (capt), Ben Mowen, Will Caldwell, Dean Mumm, Dan Palmer, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson. Res: Damien Fitzpatrick, Sekope Kepu, Chris Thomson, Luke Doherty, Luke Burgess, Kurtley Beale, Peter Playford.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.